Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-02-18
NONSIEUR BEBE.
A sketch of Norman Pi-h.r-FoI,.

a sketch Of Norman Fisher-FOIk.
"Ah but wonder how it would feel to
put ON leather shoes and have them button
ed So tight that one could not kick them
off -
".Sdbofs are much better. mon Detit
ones toes do not always try 10 come out Of
them unbiddcn as they did in shoes made
of leather answered an old and white
coitied woman, who was knitting in the
sun.
The first sentence came from the grave
little mouth of a iisherman's orphan son,
who had seen the boisterous channel storms
for ten years and had watched from the
windows Of his humble Norman home many
hardy sailors in their staunch fishing craft
20 out from the little hamlet never 10 re
turn. Among the number had been his
father. Perhaps this was why Monsieur
Bebe's' wide blue eyes were forever wan
dering out over the water with am expect
ant and longing lool; in them for. although
he knew mass had been said for the souls
in that fishing smack which sailed to the
fishing grounds of Les Ecrthous Isles and
nevermore was heard from Monsieur Bcbv
was never quite sure his father would not
come back to him some happy day.
If one was 81 rude as to ask him why cv-
cry one in the village called him Monsieur
Bebc. the little fellow would have answer
ed "AHc. doad' turning away his curly
head half ashamed Of the name that had
chung 10 him from the years of hi, baby
hood. Almost every one else had forgotten
but his grandmother. who took care Of the
orphan boy, would have answered that it
was because Of habit of keeping his
thumb ia his mouth long after he outgrr,y
his baby clothes Monsieur Bebe', grand
mother would have given her last sou for
the little one as she called him. hut
pair of leather shoes were no more within
her means than the grand chateau over
across the bay, which they could see from
their windows
Leather shoes had become Monsieur
Bebe ambition since the summer when he
had seen "A little boy from that vague beau
tiful Paris on the sands with such beautiful
Partisan made boots that they took complete
possession of Monsieur Bebes mind
Now he would lie awake at night and
think how he could get money to buyth GOV
eted treasures You might think from thi.
weakness that Monsieur Bebe was IA foolish
boy, but it was not so ; he was brave and
true at heart.
What wouldst thou do with such
things . his grandmother would say to
him when she grew tired of hearing about
the shoes. They are only for the rich
and we do not belong 10 that class
Now Monsieur Bebe had been born while
the country was under Republican govern
ment and unlike his grandmother. who be-
ieved that things were right as they were,
and that each should rest content with the
position in which they were born, Monsieur
| Bebe had heard the sailors say that any one
nowadays might be ruler of the people,
and this idea sank deep into his mind.
why should be a peasant when perhaps
! | could be a ruler e This thought was born
| to live long, and transformed Monsieur
| Bebe into Monsieur Homme almost before
| he knew il. There was one road 70 wealth
open to Monsieur Bebe, and that was catch
ing shrimp,. He had basket, but he need
ed net.
'Grand'm mere. said Monsieur Bebe one
! day, as he rushed into his dinner in bolster
Gus haste, II know why ! want the shoes
thou think ST so foolish and it is plain that
must have them.
Foolish little one, come eat thy soup be
fore it is quite cold, and put the nonsense
out of thy mouth with this spoon. answer
ed the old woman who had had the dinner
waiting for half an hour
Monsieur Bebe said nothing more, hut af
/
up the ladder which led to his garnet. and
quietly took the coarse pilow-case from hi,
pillow. and stuiing il into his shirt he
watched his chance when his grandmother
was busy to steal down again and out int,
the street With barrel hoop which he
had found in an old boat and the pillow
case, lac made IA very good net to find Il
| pole which would do for handle was not
| difficult then all was ready
Some shrimpers were already starting
| out as Monsieur Bebe came down the sands
They joked him little, but every man had
a soft place III his heart for the orphan boy
and did no worse than to call him Mon
sieur Bebe the fisherman Monsieur Bebt
did not wear his heart ON his sleeve, and
none knew of the determination which had
taken possession of him that day As h,
trudged along, following the group, h,
thought to himself:
1T must he the good God who put,
thoughts into peoples hearts,
The first days shrimping brought three
fancs into Monsieur Behe's pocket, and a,
he heard the music Of the silver pieces jim
Cling at every step, it was as proud mo
ment rs it he were indeed the President nj
the Republic on his triumphal march,
Before entering the house, he hid his net
and slipped the three silver coins into hi,
blue wooden sock They made him limp a
as they reached the sole but he kicked of
his sabots when he reached his grandmoth
er's door. No wooden socks left his feet
that night, and even in his happy dreams h,
could feel the coins.
The next day, and the next, luck follow
ed him, and Monsieur Bebe had alread,
twelve francs where the three had been
but il was impossible to put more in tina
safe bank a substitute must he found
The piece of pillow-case which was lef
over when he made the net, was the oul,
thing he had This he tied tightly abou
his precious coins, and strapped it with
cord about his waist under his blouse.
Every moment now, when free from hi
lessons, was spent by Monsieur Bebe il
shrimping, and the time was fast approach
ing when he would tell his secret to hi
grandmother, and get his long desired shoes
The feast of Noel would he the day of al
others for such happiness, and when h
should put the cloth to replace the pillow
case he had taken in his grandmother
hands The bag of silver about his wal,
. was growing very heavy, and the heavie
it grew the lighter grew his heart,
One day, as the great feast day dre'
; near, Monsieur Bebe was invited by one {
; the fishermen to take a sail down the bay I
Z the great port where the giant steamers {
4 the ocean make a safe harbor-a harbC
I which is one of the most beautiful mont
, ments of Napoleon Ills reign. The fist
! erman had load of fish TO sell and lande
? in order 10 make his bargain with the dea
. ers, leaving Monsieur Bebe in charg
2 Among the crowd of loungers were man
who smiled TO see so young "A sailor in sue
u responsible position but Monsieur Bel
said no word, taking in the wondrous sceI
before him with wide-open eyes. This va
y the world of which he dreamed, for whic
he longed without knowing it.
/, As he was thus wrapped in his bus
thoughts, he heard splash in the watt
4. beside him. 1t was little boy who Ia
fallen from the pier above. Monsieur Bel
was good swimmer, and without thong
he jumped in after the boy and grasp'
him. They sank together; but in a m
inent or two more "A long pole with ho'
u ON the end was run out into the water, IA
Is as the two heads appeared above the 81
face the men shouted, GRASP the huol
" Grasp the hook ~ Two sailors jump
from neighboring vessel, and the t'
boys were safe on board the fisherman
e less time than il takes to tell it, Monsie
- Bebe disappeared into the cabin, aud